Is it worth buying DDR4 now?
Only if your PC already runs it. DDR4 is the right choice for boards from roughly 2016 to 2022 and for Intel 12th to 14th gen boards built for DDR4. For a new build it is the wrong one, because AMD AM5 and Intel Core Ultra 200S platforms only take DDR5.
On an existing system, more DDR4 is almost always cheaper than a new board, processor and DDR5 kit together. The median DDR4 desktop kit costs $8.00 per GB this week, against $17.50 per GB for DDR5. Our DDR5 prices show the other side of that comparison.
Why DDR4 is not the cheap option it used to be
Normally an older memory generation gets cheaper as the new one takes over. This time the makers are retiring it at the same time. Micron sent customers DDR4 end of life notices in June 2025, and TrendForce reported that Samsung, SK hynix and Micron planned to end DDR4 shipments between late 2025 and early 2026. The dates come from industry reports, not official announcements, and some were later reported to slip. The effect on shelves is the same: fewer new DDR4 kits, and prices that follow supply.
When 8GB DDR4 modules briefly cost more than 8GB DDR5 modules in July 2025, TrendForce called it a rare price inversion. Check the price per GB column in the table before you assume DDR4 is the saving.
What to look for in a DDR4 kit
Match the speed your processor and board support, usually 3200 MT/s. A DDR4 3200 CL16 kit has a true latency of 10 ns, the same as DDR5 6000 CL30, so a tighter or faster DDR4 kit rarely pays off. Buy the capacity as one matched kit. Two DDR4 kits bought years apart often will not run together at their rated speed.
DDR4 and DDR5 sticks look alike in photos. The notch is in a different position, and a DDR4 label reads PC4, for example PC4-25600. If your board manual says DDR5, none of the kits on this page fit.